Electromechanical read-in apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. MART/N 5/5011.

A T TORNE'Y.

Sept. 15, 1964 M. SIEGEL ELECTROMECHANICAL READ-IN APPARATUS Filed Aug. 29, 1960 on s 3 ow I, Q

m: E 9$ I I a: Q\\ n3 Sept. 15, 1964 slEGEL 3,149,225

EILEICTROMECHANICAL READ-IN APPARATUS Filed Aug. 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MART/N S/EGEL.

United States Patent 3,149,225 ELECTROMECHANICAL READ-IN APIARATIUS Martin Siegel, Livonia, Mich, assignor to Burroughs Corporatiun, Detroit, Mich, a corporatinn of Michigan Filed Aug. 29, ram, Ser. No. 52,534 7 Claims. (ill. 235--61.6)

This invention relates generally to bookkeeping machines and more particularly relates to an electromechanical read-in apparatus therefor.

As is well known in the business machine industry, it is frequently desirable to provide mechanism for delivering previously recorded data, numeric or alphabetic, from an external source such as coded documents, perforated tape or the like for rapid and reliable input of information to be utilized in a machine bookkeeping procedure. The problem encountered is that of providing a read-in mechanism which is capable of rapid operation yet is reliable and readily adaptable to any bookkeeping machine which has as its basic operating mechanism a plurality of differentially positionable data members.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus capable of translating coded indicia into mechanical movement corresponding to the value thereof.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide an apparatus for translating coded indicia into corresponding mechanical movement by electromagnetic means.

It is a further object of this invention to furnish a readin apparatus for controlling the differential movement of a data rack mechanism whose operation is of the positive stop type and wherein timing has been eliminated as a critical factor.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a bookkeeping machine with parts broken away embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view showing the control device for the machine index slide;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the read-in-unit and a portion of a data rack;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the scanner and a portion of a code perforated tape; and

FIG. 5 is a general schematic view of the read-in sys tem of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, my read-in apparatus, indicated generally by the numeral 20, is adapted to read in information encoded by perforations in a tape, magnetically encoded documents or other similar means to a plurality of data racks in the bookkeeping machine. As is clearly evident, the information may be numeric or alphabetic according to the code provided and further utilization means will be shown whereby practical use of the coded information may be made. In FIG. 1, only those components of a bookkeeping machine are shown which illustrate the manner in which a basic read-in operation would function in accordance with the present invention. For a further understanding of the details of the machine, reference may be made to US. Patent No. 2,629,549, issued to T. M. Butler on February 24, 1953, which is of common ownership herewith.

With reference to the components of the machine shown in FIG. 1, supported on the machine carriage is a platen 22, an index slide 24, which is situated beneath the keyboard and is positioned by a key stem action in manual operations of the machine, and the main cam shaft 26. One of a plurality of differentially positionable members, hereinafter referred to as data racks, are horizontally arrayed in a side by side relationship in the machine and indicated by numeral 28. In order to present the most simple and straightforward exposition of the "ice read-in apparatus it will be described with reference to the control of a single data rack. It will, however, be appreciated that a similar read-in apparatus may be provided for as many data racks as desired to control the number of digits in the input desired.

Also shown in FIG. 1 is a printing mechanism. Itsmain parts include gear 30 which serves to mesh with a lower toothed portion 31 of data rack 28 and transmit motion to a lower rack gear portion 32 to position the upper type members 34 vertically in correspondence with the numeric value of the coded number read in to the data rack. To further simplify the explanation of the present invention, the input considered will be that of a single digit number. The type elements 34 carry from top to bottom the digits 0 and 1 through 9. Each of the data racks 28 carries in its central portion a lock rack 36 of a well known construction which holds the rack 28 against movement during the print operation. Each data rack 28 has an upward and forwardly extending lug 38 at its forward end which is adapted to engage one of a plurality of stop shoulders 39 on the upper surface of stop sector 40. It will be appreciated that one stop sector is provided for each data rack 28 and index slide 24. The stop sectors are rockably supported on a shaft 42 which is supported at its opposite ends in the machine sideframes and has an upward arm 44 biased in a clockwise direction by a spring 46. The stop shoulders 39 on each stop sector are spaced at uniformly increasing distances from the axis of the shaft 42 so that the data rack 28 is positioned differentially and the one nearest thereto represents a stop for no forward movement of the data rack and corresponds to the zero position. The upper end of the arm 44 is coupled by a stud to its respective index slide 24.

Support structure for the data rack 28 is provided by two transverse rods 43 each of which extends through a horizontal slot Sii in the rack. The rods are supported in side frames of the machine. Further guides are provided for the data racks by a comb member 52 which is mounted transversely in the machine at its forward end. The comb plate has a series of vertical slots through which the data racks 28 are guided in spaced parallel relationship. Each data rack is urged forwardly in the machine by a tension spring 54. The spring has its rear end connected to a stud on the data rack and is anchored at its forward end to comb plate 52.

The drive mechanism for the machine as previously indicated is centrally located about main cam shaft 26 and includes a clutch 56 adapted to provide a single cycle of revolution. A clutch actuating yoke 60 is pivotally mounted about a transversely fixed shaft 58. The yoke has a short arm 62 and a long arm 64 extending rearwardly in the machine. The short arm 62 is adapted to engage the end of clutch pawl 66. Extending from clutch pawl 66 is an inwardly disposed clutch tooth 68 which is engageable with one of a series of circumferential notches in star gear 7i). Additional mechanism for actuating the clutch is provided by levers 72 and 74 both of which are rockably supported on an auxiliary side frame of the machine which is not shown. Lever '72 extends downwardly, is spring biased clockwise, and carries an abutment 73, which is adapted to engage a laterally extending lug 65 at the rearward end of arm 64 of yoke 60. Lever 72 also carries an abutment 73a, which is engaged by a notched portion 75 on lever 74. A rearward extending arm 76 of lever 74 is pivotally connected to a link 78, which extends rearwardly in the machine. By engagement of the clutch 56 through the aforementioned mechanism, the drive motor is enabled to drive the main cam shaft of the machine through one revolution clockwise.

Also mounted rotatively about the cam shaft and forming a part of the drive mechanism are a series of cams of which cam 80 is shown in part. Shown coacting with cam 80 is a multiple armed lever 82, which is rockably mounted on a transverse shaft 84. Shaft 84 extends between the side plates of the machine. Lever 82 has a forward extending arm 88 and a rearward cam follower arm 86. The forward arm 88 carries a bail 96 which is in engagement with a projection from index slide 24 and limits the rearward movement thereof. Cam follower arm 86 carries a cam roller 92 which cooperates with cam 80 during the clockwise rotation of the cam whereby lever 82 is rockable in a clockwise direction to permit the rearward movement of index slide 24.

The forward and rearward movement of the data rack 28 is controlled by the action of a bail rod 94. The bail rod extends transversely in the machine, is mounted at its ends in horizontal slots in guideplates provided therefore, and is controlled in its forward and rearward movement by additional cam means mounted on the main cam shaft 26 in a manner fully disclosed in the aforementioned Butler patent. As previously indicated, the data rack is biased forwardly in the machine by the action of spring 54. When the parts are in normal position with the machine at rest, as shown in FIG. 1, the bail 94 rests in a small concavity in the forward surface of a shoulder 96 of the data rack. During the forward movement of the bail in a machine cycle of operation, the data rack is allowed to move forward in the machine to a predetermined limit provided by rods 48 engaging the rearward ends of their respective slots 50 and is arranged to be stopped in a plurality of information-indicating positions by means hereinafter to be described. The informationindicating positions of the data rack may be conveniently described as n value-indicating positions, wherein n is a series of integers, for example, the digits and 1 through 9 of the decimal code. As a result of the rearward movement of bail 94', the data rack is moved to its normal inactive position with rods 43 in engagement with the forward edges of slot 50.

The machine is provided with a plurality of totalizers of a type well known in the art which are adapted to perform addition, subtraction, or total taking operations. One of the totalizers is indicated by numeral 98 with one of a plurality of totalizer pinions 100 shown. The totalizer pinion is engageable with a lower toothed portion of data rack 28 during its forward or rearward movement as fully explained in the Butler patent.

The read-in mechanism 20 which is the subject of the present invention is situated at the rear of the machine and is mounted on a rear portion of the machine frame 102. A bracket 104 is fixed to the rear surface of frame 102 and has mounted thereon four electromagnets 106 through 109. Each electromagnet has its clapper operatively connected to a corresponding stop slide 110 through 113. Mounted on the inner surface of frame 102 is bracket 114 which supports electromagnet 116. The clapper of electromagnet 116 is coupled to a slide 118, which carries a roller 120. Also mounted on frame 102 in a position above bracket 114 is electromagnet 122 which has its clapper coupled to link 78 and is therefore adapted to engage clutch 56 to initiate a cycle of operation of the machine. A lever 124 is pivotally mounted on stud 126 at a point near the rear end of data rack 28. Lever 124 has at its forward end a cam portion 128 engagable with the roller 120 carried by slide 118. At its rearward end, lever 124 has a raised abutment portion or shoulder 130. The forward end of lever 124 is normally biased upwardly by a spring 132 whereby its shoulder 130 beyond the pivot point 126 is maintained in an inactive position relative to stop slides 110 through 113. Data rack 28 is provided at its rear end with a raised abutment portion or shoulder 134.

FIG. 2 shows an electromagnet 1.36 mounted forwardly in the machine on auxiliary machine side frame 138 which is shown in part. A lever 140 is pivotally mounted on side frame 138 and has its forward end operatively connecteed to the clapper of electromagnet 136. At its rearward extending portion, lever 140 is biased downwardly by spring 142 and carries a bail 144 adapted to engage a downwardly extending projection 146 on index slide 24. Energization of electromagnet 136 will therefore rock lever 148 counterclockwise whereby bail 144 will serve to arrest the rearward movement of index slide 24.

FIG. 3 shows further structural detail of the read-in unit. The bracket 104 mounted on machine frame 102 has a forward portion bent at a right angle on which electromagnets 186 and 108 are mounted and a rearward portion bent out from frame 102 on which electromagnets 1G7 and 189 are mounted. All electromagnets are shown in an unenergized condition in which their associated slides are maintained beyond engagement and outside the line of movement of shoulders 130 or 134 on the data rack. Each slide through 113 has a downwardly extending stop projection which will be drawn into the path of abutment 13% in the active, elevated position of lever 124 or into the path of abutment 134- of rack 28 in the inactive, lowered position of lever 124 thus stopping the data rack 28 in differential value-indicating positions corresponding to multiples of a unit distance between the stop projections. The energization of electromagnet 116 is operable to draw roller inwardly so that it engages the cam portion 128 of lever 124 during the forward motion of data rack 28 in a machine cycle. By this cam means, the elevation of abutment on lever 124 to an operative actuated position is accomplished. Each of the slides 110 through 113 and 118 is provided with a pair of horizontal slots 159. A pair of parallel spaced shafts 14 8 extend on either side of frame 182 and project through slots 150 to provide support and guidance for the longitudinal movement of these slides. A cut out portion 152 is provided in frame 102 to provide clearance for the movement of data rack 28 therethrough and in the event none of the stop slides have been actuated to stop the data rack when the fixed abutment 134 engages the lower rearward surface of frame 102.

FIG. 4 shows a portion of a perforated card bearing a punch code, traveling in a path indicated by an arrow beneath a scanning head or reader of a type well known in the art. The advancing and transport mechanism for the card has been omitted since it does not form a part of the present invention. A scanner unit is provided which senses the presence of coded holes and provides electrical pulses whereby the electromagnets may be selectively energized. The scanner unit which is an external adjunct to the accounting machine includes a row of aligned electrical switches 156 through 161 which control the energization of electromagnets 122, 109, 103, 107, 105 and 116 respectively in response to the presence of perforations. A shaft 162 is supported in a line at right angles to the path of travel of the card 154. Journalled upon shaft 162 is an actuating lever 164 for each of the aforementioned switches 156 through 161. In response to the presence of a hole, the actuating levcr will protrude therethrough, whereby it will rock counterclockwise about shaft 162, become displaced from its associated plunger, and cause its respective switch to close.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic whereby the switches 156 through 161 of the scanner unit control the energization of the various control clectromagnets in the accounting machine.

Descrfplfon of Operation The operation of the read-in apparatus in conjunction with the accounting machine will be described in connection with a specific code as shown in FIG. 4. The perforated card 154 has perforations coded progressively for numeric values from 1 through 9 and zero. The scanner switches are shown engaging the first transverse code zone indicative of the value of 1. As indicated by the card, it is necessary to initiate a cycle of the accounting machine for every coded value. This is accomplished by the perforations on the card aligned with switch 156 in the scanner unit. With reference to FIG. 1, the closure of switch 156 will serve to energize electromagnet 122. Since electromagnet 122 has its clapper connected to link 78, the link will be moved rearwardly in the machine. As a result, lever 74 will be rocked clockwise and its notched portion 75 will be displaced upwardly from abutment 73a on lever 72. Lever 72 will then be spring biased in a clockwise direction whereby its abutment 73 will be displaced from lug 65 at the end of lever 64. Yoke oil will pivot clockwise about shaft 58 whereby its short arm 62 will be disengaged from the end of clutch pawl 66. Clutch tooth 68 will then drop into a notch on star gear 76 and the machine will be given a single cycle of revolution in a manner fully described in the Butler patent. As a consequence of the rotation of the cams carried on cam shaft 26, lever 82 will be rocked clockwise to permit the movement which will initiate the forward travel of the data racks 28 in the machine.

As further shown in FIG. 4, the perforations in the lane sensed by switch 161 of the scanner control the energization of electromagnet 116. When the slide 118 controlled by electromagnet 116 is actuated, the cam roller carried thereby serves to engage and rock the lever 12% counterclockwise thus raising its abutment 136* to an active position for that portion of the forward movement of rack 28 during which roller 120 is in contact with the raised camming surface 128 which slopes rearwardly in the machine and drops off near stud 126 as shown in FIGJ. Selective energization of electromagnets 1% through 169 by their corresponding scanner switches, in conjunction with the energization of electromagnet 116 will arrest the data rack in differential positions indicative of the values 1 through 4. For coded Values from 5 through 8, electromagnet 116 is not energized. Thus lever 124 is maintained with abutment 13th in its lowered or inactive position by spring 132. Selective energization of electromagnets 1% through 1&9 will therefore position their respective stop slides in the path of fixed abutment 134 at the rear of data rack 28 to arrest the rack in the desired differential position.

It will be noted that in the 9 position of the rack, it is permitted its greatest degree of forward movement in the machine. For coded value 9, as shown in FIG. 4, the perforations in the card 154 are arranged to control switches 1.56 and 161 and thereby actuate relays 122 and 116, respectively. This actuation of relay 116 and thereby the positioning of slide 118 is incidental to the entry of the value 9 and, as is shown in FIG. 5, is for the purpose of actuating relay 136. Thus, when the value 9 is to be entered into the machine, abutment 130 is positioned by the coaction of roller 120 and camming surface 128 to its active position during the initial forward movement of rack 28. As shown in FIG. 1, the rearward sloping camming surface 128 drops off abruptly near stud 1.26. Thus, when the rack 28 has traveled forward a sufficient distance, as shown in FIG. 1, a distance approximately equal to 4 /4 unit distances, the rearward sloping camming surface falls away from engagement with roller 12th and thereafter lever 124 is free to rotate under bias, thereby returning abutment 13% to its normally inactive position. With the abutment 1130 returned to its inactive position before it can engage frame ];tl2, the rack 28 is free to continue its forward movement until fixed abutment 134 engages frame 1412, thereby stopping the rack in the 9 position.

in the O or no movement rack position, a perforation is provided only in the column controlling switch 156 and electromagnet 122 to initiate a machine cycle. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, electromagnet 136, which inhibits the movement of index slide 24 is activated for all values except 0. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the index slide 24' is permitted to move rearwardly whereby stop sector 4t: will be pivoted clockwise about shaft ti 4-2 to place its first stop shoulder 39 closest to shaft 42 in engagement with lug 38 on rack 28 to arrest the rack in its starting or Zero position.

As additionally shown in FIG. 1, utilization means are provided for the positioning of the rack in its value indicative position. The number read-in may be printed out by means of the printing mechanism shown or may be stored in a totalizer 98 or any similar storage device.

It may now be appreciated that the present read-in apparatus provides a positive stop acting mechanism wherein all elements are simultaneously set, each with a single electrical pulse, at the same time in accordance with the coded indicia presented. The actual positioning of the rack is accomplished by the abutment action of the pivoted lever acting as a partial movement control, or in the inactive state of the pivoted lever, by the action of a second fixed abutment on the data rack.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for translating values of a value series represented by coded indicia into corresponding moved positions of a differentially movable member comprising, a plurality of equally spaced like stops in alignment with each other and slidable in a direction normal to the move ment of said differentially movable member, a movable abutment mounted on said diiferentially movable member in a normally inactive position and movable to an active position, a fixed abutment mounted on said differentially movable member being spaced from said movable abutment a distance equal to the spacing between the first and the last of said stops, means responsive to said coded indicia for selectively activating one of said stops to engage one of said abutments, and means responsive to said coded indicia for controlling the movement of said movable abutment into its active position.

2. Means enabling the differential positioning along the path of movement of a difierentially positionable member comprising, a first abutment carried on said positionable member, a normally retracted second abutment carried by said positionable member and located in advance of said first abutment relative to the path of forward movement of said positionable member, control means operatively connected to said second abutment and controlling the retraction and actuation thereof, a plurality of stop members positioned along the path of travel of said differentially positionable member for stopping said differentially positionable member in different value indicating positions, each selectively and independently positionable into the path of movement of said differentially positionable member for engagement with said first abutment when said second abutment is retracted and with the latter abutment when it is actuated, and a pluraliy of control means each operatively connected to a diiferent one of said stop members and controlling the positioning thereof into the path of movement of said differentially positionable member.

3. In a data processing machine having a movable member differentially positionable in n information-indicating positions including a zero position, record-controlled information read-in apparatus comprising:

fixed abutment means carried by said member,

movable abutment means carried by said member and spaced therealong away from said fixed abutment means and having a normally ineffective retracted position and an effective actuated position,

means for locking said movable member against movement in said zero position,

means responsive to first indicia on said record for releasing said locking means,

means responsive to second indicia on said record for selectively positioning said movable abutment means in its effective actuated position,

stop means fewer in number than said valuedndicating positions of said movable member including a plurality of translatably supported stop members each selectively and individually movable into the path of forward movement of said movable member for positioning said movable member in n2 value-indicating positions and a fixed stop member positioned in the path of forward movement of said movable member for arresting said movable member in its nth valueindicating position, and

electromagnetic control means responsive to third indicia on said record for individually positioning said movable stop members for engagement with said movable abutment means when said movable abut ment means is in its actuated position and with said fixed abutment means when said movable abutment means is in its retracted position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said movable abutment means comprises:

a two-armed lever pivotally mounted on said movable member having a raised cam follower surface carried on the forwardmost arm, an abutment surface carried on the other of said arms and means biasing said abutment surface into an ineffective retracted position.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said means for positioning said movable abutment means into its actuated position comprises:

camming means selectively positionable into the path of forward movement of said movable member for coacting with said cam follower surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the plurality of said translatably supported stop members is fewer in number than n2.

7. In a data processing machine having a movable member differentially positionable during the machine cycle in n value-indicating positions including a zero position and having means for locking said movable member against movement in the Zero position, record-controlled read-in apparatus comprising:

fixed abutment means carried by said movable member proximate one end thereof,

movable abutment means having a normal ineffective retracted position and an efiective actuated position carried by said movable member forward of said fixed abutment means relative to the path of forward movement of said movable member,

stop means including a plurality of slide members each individually and selectively transversely movable into the path of the forward movement of said fixed abutment means when said movable abutment means is re acted and of the latter when it is actuated for positioning said movable member in one of 12-2 value-indicating positions and a fixed stop member in the path of forward movement of said fixed abutment means for positioning said movable member in its nth value-indicating position,

first electromagnetic means response to indicia on said record for initiating a machine cycle and for selectively actuating said movable abutment and said slide members,

second electromagnetic means responsive to the actuation of said movable abutment means or any of said slide members for releasing said locking means, and

mechanical means on said movable abutment means for releasing said movable abutment means from the effect of said first electromagnetic means as said movable abutment approaches said fixed stop during the forward movement of said rack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,821,046 Wright Sept. 1, 1931 2,290,827 Thomas July 21, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 669,522 Germany Dec. 29, 1938 

7. IN A DATA PROCESSING MACHINE HAVING A MOVABLE MEMBER DIFFERENTIALLY POSITIONABLE DURING THE MACHINE CYCLE IN N VALUE-INDICATING POSITIONS INCLUDING A ZERO POSITION AND HAVING MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID MOVABLE MEMBER AGAINST MOVEMENT IN THE ZERO POSITION, RECORD-CONTROLLED READ-IN APPARATUS COMPRISING: FIXED ABUTMENT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID MOVABLE MEMBER PROXIMATE ONE END THEREOF, MOVABLE ABUTMENT MEANS HAVING A NORMAL INEFFECTIVE RETRACTED POSITION AND AN EFFECTIVE ACTUATED POSITION CARRIED BY SAID MOVABLE MEMBER FORWARD OF SAID FIXED ABUTMENT MEANS RELATIVE TO THE PATH OF FORWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE MEMBER, STOP MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SLIDE MEMBERS EACH INDIVIDUALLY AND SELECTIVELY TRANSVERSELY MOVABLE INTO THE PATH OF THE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID FIXED ABUTMENT MEANS WHEN SAID MOVABLE ABUTMENT MEANS IS RETRACTED AND OF THE LATTER WHEN IT IS ACTUATED FOR POSITIONING SAID MOVABLE MEMBER IN ONE OF N-2 VALUE-INDICATING POSITIONS AND A FIXED STOP MEMBER IN THE PATH OF FORWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID FIXED ABUTMENT MEANS FOR POSITIONING SAID MOVABLE MEMBER IN ITS NTH VALUE-INDICATING POSITION, 